dozens if not more than 100 who have died in this age group on covid-19. covid has come out of nowhere in the last two years to become a leading cause of death, a top 10 leading cause of death in children of this age group. yes, there is a societal impact of having 28 million kids of this 5 to 11 age group eligible to be vaccinated. the real benefit is going to be for families. there are so many families like yours, and that i know and that we treat clinical practice, whom have been putting their lives on hold. parents who are worried about going into in person work because they don't want to come back and infect their children. kids who have been going to school especially in areas of the country -- >> we'll leave this program. you can watch the rest at c-span.org. live now to the house back in session. the speaker pro tempore: bill

1095 on which the yeas and nays are ordered. the clerk will report the title. the clerk: senate 1095, an act to amend title 38 united states code to provide for the disapproval by the secretary of veterans affairs of courses of education offered by public institutions of higher learning that do not charge veterans the in state tuition rate for purposes of survivors and dependents educational assistance program. and for other purposes.

mr. brown: as the member designated mr. defazio, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mr. defazio will vote yes on h.r. 5671.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by ms. matsui, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that ms. matsui will vote yes on h.r. 5671.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from illinois seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. rush from illinois, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mr. rush

will vote yes on s.1095. the speaker pro tempore: flops the gentleman from arizona seek recognition? >> as the member designated mrs. kirkpatrick, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mrs. kirkpatrick will vote yes on s.1095. as the member designated mr. grijalva, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mr. grijalva will vote yes on s.1095.

the speaker pro tempore: for what reason does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition? >> as the member designated by miss rice from new york, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that miss rice will vote yes on s.1095. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from virginia seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. blumenauer, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mr. blumenauer will vote yes on s.1095. as the member designated by mr. yarmuth, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mr. yarmuth will vote yes on s.1095.

as the member designated by mr. lowenthal, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mr. lowenthal will vote yes on s.1095. the speaker pro tempore: for what reason does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by representative lesko of arizona, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that representative lesko will vote yes on s.1095. thank you.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from texas seek recognition. >> as the member designated mr. crenshaw of texas, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mr. crenshaw will vote yea on s.1095. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. defazio,

pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mr. defazio will vote yes on s.1095.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from tennessee seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member

designated by mr. bilirakis of florida, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mr. bilirakis will vote yea on s.1095. madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. long of missouri, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mr. long will vote yea on s.1095. finally, madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. sam graves, of missouri, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mr. graves will vote yea on s.1095. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member

designated by mr. green of tennessee, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mr. green will vote aye on s.1095. >> as the member designated by ms. underwood of illinois, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that ms. underwood will vote yes on s.1095. the speaker pro tempore: for what reason does the gentleman from massachusetts seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated mr. torres, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mr. torres will vote yes on s.1095.

the speaker pro tempore: for what reason does the gentleman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. lawson, i inform the house that mr. lawson will vote yes on s.1095.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from illinois seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. garcia of illinois i, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that mr. garcia will

vote yes on s.1095. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? >> as the member designated by ms. pressley of massachusetts, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the the speaker pro tempore: for what reason the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition?

the speaker pro tempore: for what reason the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition? >> as the member designated by mr. chris smith of new jersey, pursuant to house resolution 8, i inform the house that mr. smith will vote yes on s.1095. the speaker pro tempore: frosm the gentlewoman from virginia seek recognition. >> as the member designated by ms. porter, pursuant to h. res. 8, that ms. porter will vote yes on h. res. 10985.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition? as the member designated by mr. swalwell, i inform the house that mr. swalwell will vote yes on h. res. 1095. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition? >> smelgd fer as the member designated by mr. waltz of florida, pursuant to house resolution 8, i inform the house that mr. waltz will vote yes.

the speaker pro tempore: flue the gentleman from california seek recognition? >> as the member designated by representative roybal-allard, i inform the house that ms. roybal-allard will vote yes on s. # 95.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new york seek recognition? as the member designated by mr. david sills lynn yes, i inform the house that mr. cicilline will vote yes.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from new jersey seek recognition. mr. pallone: as the member designated by mr. donald payne, i inform the house that mr. payne will vote yes on s.1095.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from florida seek recognition? ms. wasserman schultz: as the member designated by mr. deutch of florida, i inform the house that mr. deutch will vote yes on s.10 # 5.

the speaker pro tempore: for what reason the gentleman from texas seek recognition? as the member designated by mr. horsford, as the member designated by mr. horse horsford will vote yes. the speaker pro tempore: for what reason the gentleman from i will know seek recognition? >> smgd mr. gonzalez of ohio, mr. gonzalez will vote yes. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from maryland seek recognition? mr. raskin: as the member designated by mr. polk can,

mr. pocan will vote yes on the bill. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does reason the gentlewoman from connecticut seek recognition? >> as the member designated by ms. wilson, i inform the house that ms. wilson will vote yes on s.1095.

the speaker pro tempore: for what reason the gentleman from new york seek recognition sng as the member designated by mr. jacobs of new york, nows that mr. jacobs will vote yes on s.105. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition ? >> as the member designated by

ms. matsui, i inform the houser that ms. matsui will vote yes on s.1095. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from south carolina seek

recognition? as the member designated by joe wilson from south carolina, i inform the house that he will vote yes on s.1095.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from illinois seek recognition? ms. kelly: as the member designated by ms. clarke of new york, i inform the house that ms. clarke will vote yes on s. 1095.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman seek recognition? >> as the member designated by ms. manning of north carolina, pursuant to h.res. 8, i inform the house that ms. manning will vote yes on s. 1095.

the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition? >> madam speaker, as the member designated by mr. ruiz, i inform the house that mr. ruiz will vote yes on s. 1095.

the speaker pro tempore: on this vote the yeas are 424. the nays are zero and zero recorded as present. 2/3 having responded in the affirmative, the rules are suspended, the bill is passed, and without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid on the table.

the house will be in order. the chair will now entertain requests for one-minute speeches. for what purpose does the gentlewoman from new mexico seek recognition? >> madam speaker, i ask consent to address the house for one minute and to revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. >> madam speaker, today we joined with president biden, vice president harris, senators, congressmen, mayors, governors to witness the signing of the infrastructure and jobs act, and you know what, it was summed up

as a b.f.d. day and indeed it was and it was summed up in a four-letter word, j-o-b-s, jobs. ms. leger fernandez: it will create so many jobs in our community. we will move on to do the build back better bill, because that's the bill for the people. para la gente. i can't wait, madam speaker. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from georgia the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman seek recognition? >> ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized. >> i rise to honor ralph stivens iii for being named a member of georgia's 40 under 40 class of 2021. since receiving his masters from georgia college, ralph has passionately served businesses across the state of georgia.

most recently he served as president and c.e.o. of the brunswick golden isles chamber of commerce, working hard to maintain its status as one of the best-run chambers in the state of georgia. an important aspect of the chamber's success is preparing members to be -- preparing the next generation to be valuable members. ralph is a committed advocate of work force education. every role ralph has worked to ensure that businesses across the state and community flourish his dedication to his community is nothing short of remarkable. i'm honored to recognize him for this accomplishment and thankful for his continued service throughout georgia's first congressional district. thank you, madam speaker and i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from pennsylvania seek recognition? >> i seek unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my

remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. >> i rise today to celebrate the life and legacy of emilyn tonls who was born almost a century ago and became a football player in high school. ms. scanlon: last month, the coast guard named a cutter for him to recognize his work as a football pioneer and for his work in coast forward. he rescued a shipmate from a fire after a torpedo attack and another one with fell in the frigid waters off newfoundland. he game the first black player for the new york giants and first plaque talent scout and first plaque coach for the nfl. he became the first black man inducted in the nfl hall of fame. he was described as someone who tnt set out to be a trail blazer, just a great human being

who wanted to make a difference in the world. we're proud to honor him today, i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition? >> madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. mr. lamalfa: thank you. the fifth circuit court has recently blocked president joe biden's coronavirus vaccine mandate. the court wrote that the mandate grossly exceeds osha's statutory authority. this reaffirms that the president and osha simply cannot make up laws and penalties as they go or from thin air. so let's stop making health decisions for an entire population. instead, let the individual and their doctor have -- decide what

preventive measures will suit them best, not a bureaucrat guessing one week to the next what that might be. some said, many are saying, that they'd rather retire or let themselves be fired than to continue in a job situation where they're being forced to take a vaccine. i can't believes this happening in this country. i can't believe they're trying to pin it on some 1905 state court decision of massachusetts vs. jacobson. losing our doctors, losing our health care workers to retirement would be a devastating one already to our underserved rural and urban areas. other employees represent years and years of knowledge and talent that would be lost because of this unconstitutional mandate. president biden -- the speaker: the gentleman's time has expired. mr. la mall spa: president biden whorkz side are you on? if. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from indiana seek recognition? >> i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute.

>> without objection, so order. >> it is my pleasure to recognize the achievements of the andrean high school girl's volleyball team. they won against western boom in a five-set match. congratulations to coach grant bell on his persistence and direction of this team and special kudos to the seniors for your leadership including the starters middle blocker brooke, and my niece, outside hitter angelina. please join me in recognizing the andrean59ers for their skill, tremendous hard work and representation to our region. you make all of northwest indiana and the 59er community very proud. with that, i thank you and i yield back, madam speaker. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from wisconsin seek recognition?

>> make a unanimous request to speak for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> the purpose of this speech is to encourage america to wake up before the build back better act passes here. mr. grothman: there are so many crisises going on in this country, i believe the numb one is the 100,000 people a month flooding the border but these two actions of the biden administration intersect and i encourage america to pay attention. first of all in the build back better act we are providing ams any to at least seven million illegal aliens. to give that much amnesty not only is an outrage in its own right but is encourage manager and more people to come here they feel next thing being done is that we are guaranteeing that certain bad actors will not be removed from the country. this bill provides for all for sex offenders, members of gang, this will be a further problem

and finally perhaps most absurd of all under this bill we're getting free college for people coming here illegally. the american citizen, american taxpayer, $30,000, $40,000, $50,000 in debt to go to college, people come here illegally, free college. wake up america. thank you. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlewoman from ohio seek recognition? ms. kaptur: i ask unanimous consent to address the house for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentlewoman is recognized for one minute. ms. kaptur: as co-chair of the congressional ukraine and polish caucuses and member of the belarus caucus i rise with deep concern about russia's expansionnary combativeness in europe. she is amassing tens of thousands more troops and equipment near ukraine's border which it has already invaded and killed over 13,000 individuals, threatening global security. now belarus work the support of

russia is working to undermine the european union by spearheading a migration crisis at the board we are poland. patrolled by, guess what, russian troops. the free world must strongly condemn belarus' cruel weaponnization of immigration and thes will of life. it is causing as well as. we must work to protect our polish alliance the lives desperate migrants at the border. if that's not enough, europe is facing an energy crisis forced upon it by the kremlin. russia is seeking to rep size energy to weaken the transatlantic resolve. to combat this, i'm working with my colleagues to deliver $300 million in investment to help europe diversify its energy sources and restore energy independence. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman's time has expired. mdz kaptur: i yield back my time and hope america remains strong in sol dare dito -- solidarity with our european allies who love liberty. i yield back.

the speaker: for what purpose does the gentleman seek recognition? >> request unanimous consent to address the house for one minute and revise and extend my remarks. the speaker pro tempore: without objection, the gentleman is recognized for one minute. >> thank you, madam speaker. on november 11 we celebrated veterans day. i rise today to thank our great men and women who answered the call to serve our country. mr. thompson: our nation recognizes the brave men and women who defended our freedoms and protected our country from threats across the globe. we owe the valiant men and women of the army, navy, air force, marines, coast forward, national guard and reserves our unwavering support and gratitude. this congress we must work to make sure our veterans receive the care and support they deserve even after they transfrigs yawn form to civilian lives. i'm proud to support legislation in congress focused on mental health and telehealth, spouses and families and accountable from the v.a. madam speaker, our veterans and their families have given so much for this country and ask so lit until return. i'd like to offer my sin serious

gratitude one last time to the men and women who selfishly -- unselfishly serb our country in the united states military. god bless our military and god bless the united states of america. thank you, madam speaker and i yield back the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: under the speaker's announced policy of january 4, 2021, the gentlewoman from texas, ms. jackson lee, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader. ms. jackson lee: madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent that members may be allowed to submit statement into the record for a period of appropriate time. thank you so very much. breaking news, madam speaker. today the president of the united states signed the bipartisan infrastructure bill that our chairwoman and the congressional black caucus were instrumental in moving that

legislation forward. but breaking news. the president and vice president, speaker of the house, made it very clear that we will pass the build back better act. and that they are too -- two bills that go together. so tonight i'm delighted to lead but to join the chair of the congressional black caucus to discuss the pathway and the vitality of the build back better act. there's one thing that i want to immediately speak to. pell grants that is part of the build back better will be a instrumental component to increasing the number of students at community colleges, historically black colleges and other colleges, minority-serving institutions, more than they've ever had the opportunity. do we realize that in 2021, there are still families that are sending their first

generation to college? the pell grant which was discussed a few minutes ago will give americans and legal residents the opportunity to go to school. and many others who are daca and are deserving of going to school to build a better future. i will speak very briefly of how important the build back better act is and to emphasize that it is often said that the federal budget is an expression of the nation's values. build back better is an expression of our values, of our respect, and affection for our families and our children. it is long overdue. and even though we are excited about the infrastructure bill that will bring some $26.9 billion in transportation to texas, some $3.3 billion in ensuring the improvement of

public transportation, making sure $100 million for brdband and making sure we have clean water and that is in the $2.9 billion from the infrastructure bill. but i can tell you that texans and americans are excited about the build back better. african-americans who have suffered with poverty and inequities will stand at the forefront of helping to end poverty as we know it in our communities. so i am grateful to chair beatty for her leadership and was eager to join as my colleagues and thk caucus to stand together to support this $1.75 trillion investment. very quickly, the bill is paid for. no one making over $400,000 will see any taxes go up at this time. in addition, $130 billion will be provided for health care.

breaking news. if you are uninsured, in states that never expanded medicaid, you will have insurance. huge numbers of african-americans. over 30% of seniors over the age of 70 could benefit from hearing aids as well. we know the build back better will give us an additional amount of resources for uninsured persons and provide the access to the affordable care act. child care which impacts african-americans, the build back better act will provide universal and preschool for 3-4-year-olds and cut down the amount of dollar that many young working families have to pay. i'm excited about the fact that we will be able to have working parents, will be looking for work but they will have the ability to have their children taken care of and they won't pay more than 7%, 7% of their income

for child care. $150 billion. this weekend, madam chair, i i was at my public housing, public development, families, they're going to see a new makeover, more housing built and more down payments. in fact, i am very grateful to say that we won't see these signs. my landlord is calling and i must pay. how many were evicted because dollars were not getting to people who worked hard every day but yet was because of the pandemic and other factors could not pay their rent? we will see that we will see that with the $150 billion for housing. education, $48 billion. and of course, the pell grants, as i said. it is important to take note of the fact that poverty among african-americans will decrease seismically, and particularly,

with the child tax credit that will end poverty as we know it among the impoverished children of america. again, i said, breaking news: the president signed the bipartisan infrastructure bill with the help of the congressional black caucus. but breaking news -- that we are committed to leading to helping to pass build back better with all of our other colleagues, democratic colleagues. madam speaker, i don't think we will be against our bipartisan colleagues joining us. let me conclude by saying, i am delighted to know this family at the ginger bread daycare founded by husband and wife for hardworking essential workers. how wonderful it will be that 3 to 4-year-olds can have universal access to school and childcare. can now be supported by the build back better act. and paid family leave.

breaking news -- we are changing hearts and changing america. and i am delighted to yield to our chair, thank her for her leadership. keep on leading. we're going to keep on standing so that we can pass the build back better act this week. i'm going to claim it. we say that sometimes in our community. i yield to the gentlelady from ohio. mrs. beatty: thank you so much for yielding, madam speaker. it gives me great pleasure for standing here tonight as chair of the congressional black caucus. to be here at such a critical point in our country, in our democracy, on the heels of leaving the south lawn of the white house where hundreds of people gathered in honor of supporting the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure framework. needed when we think about our roads and our bridges and

broadband. but tonight, we are so honored to be here as our chair of this night's special order hour. breaking news. thank you so much to congresswoman sheila jackson lee who is our chair anchoring tonight and yielding. let me take this point of personal privilege to thank her, to thank her for her leadership and to say to her and all of her constituents who are watching, texas is all the better because of congresswoman sheila jackson lee. when i think of someone leading and talking about build back better, talking about how great this is for america, thank you for being part of that

leadership. now tonight, let me simply say, madam speaker, when i look to build back better, i see the faces of the congressional black caucus. six chairs of major committees. so let me do breaking news. breaking news -- when we look to build back better, housing. we know across america that we have a housing problem. we know that we needed more dollars going into housing, into vouchers, affordable housing. breaking news -- congresswoman maxine waters, chair of the powerful financial services committee, under which housing and insurance falls. she was iconic in her leadership, from the white house to the speaker, working both

sides of the aisle. and, yes, $150 billion. when i think of congressman bobby scott, i think of education and labor. there has not been a stronger voice in the congress than bobby scott in the congressional black caucus. you heard earlier from congresswoman sheila jackson lee. pell grants. h.b.c. historically black colleges and universities. billions of dollars going into our universities. and madam speaker, let me take a point of personal privilege, because i am a proud graduate of a hbcu. so i know what this means to young girls and boys and men and women who are me trick lating in our metriculating in our hbcu's. when we talk about the child tax

credit, when we talk about universal childcare, this is so critical. breaking news, congresswoman -- $400 -- i want to say that again $400 billion into childcare. taking some 40% of our children out of poverty. we know how important our climate is to us. if we didn't, if you were out on that south lawn today, you clearly understood climate change. madam speaker, billions in climate change. i am going to have other colleagues come together. we are -- come today. we are going to hear how important it is when we take lead out of our water, what it does for our children, for our families, for the environment. breaking news -- $1.75 trillion

in build back better. earlier, one of the members of the congressional black caucus said to me, tell our story. you see, our fingerprints and footprints are all through this $1.75 billion -- trillion. if you don't claim it, people don't know it. so i want everyone to know the congressional black caucus is so proud of our message, our power, because we understand that our diversity is our strength. and our unity is our power. and so tonight it's so important for us to say, $1.75 trillion, build back better. $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure framework. it was the congressional black caucus that asked for a seat at

the table. and you know, our late congressman john lewis always said, if you see something, say something. so madam speaker, the congressional black caucus decided that we were going to say something. we were going to say something to make sure that all our friends and colleagues came together so we could do what's great for america. and that's what we've done. so let me say these closing remarks as we then call up our other colleagues, let me simply say that i am honored to serve in those united states -- in the united states congress, but i am extremely humbled and privileged and honored to be the chair of the congressional black caucus in our 50th year of existence. with the largest and the oldest membership of the caucuses in

the congress. and so with that, madam chair, chair of our special order our, our power, our message, we are the congressional black caucus. i yield back. ms. jackson lee: what a grand statement from our chair who has captured the leadership of this entire day. as i conclude my remarks, i just wanted to say, madam speaker, to the chair, this is what you are doing and we are doing by pushing build back better and putting our stamp on it. 22.1% of black people fall below the poverty line. struggling to pay expenses like food, rent, health care, and transportation for their families. but with the child tax cut, the build back better act provides a major tax cut to nearly three

million black people and cuts the black poverty rate by 34.3%, which will help the 85% of black women who are sole or co-breadwinners for their family. so i am pleased to be on the floor of the house with you showing what will happen to many in the black community who are out and about working and helping. this bill will help them and it will help all america and will help those minorities who are in need. so it's my honor to yield the remaining of my time to the distinguished chair of the congressional black caucus, my friend, chair, and may i say, our message, our power, i always like to say, our power, our message. that's what we are and i am delighted to have been able to join her at this time. i yield the remaining balance of

my time to the gentlelady from ohio. unanimous consent. the speaker pro tempore: under the speaker's announced policy of january 4, 2021, the chair recognizes the gentlewoman from the gentlewoman from ohio is recognized for the remainder of the hour as the designee of the majority leader. mrs. beatty: thank you, madam speaker. thank you, congresswoman sheila jackson lee for yielding. it gives me at this time great pleasure to yield, madam speaker, to hear from congresswoman brenda lawrence. she hails from the great state of michigan. she is also the second vice chair of the powerful congressional black caucus. she is also one of the co-chairs of our women's caucus. and at this time, i would like

to say to my colleague and to my friend, thank you for your leadership. thank you for your strong voice. as a former mayor, we know she's used to leading, guiding. so at this time i yield to congresswoman brenda lawrence. mrs. lawrence: i want to thank my c.b.c. colleague, my c.b.c. chair, an amazing leader for our country, joyce beatty, for leading this special hour. i want to thank my colleague -- and she's been a mentor -- sheila jackson lee, who's just amazing. i rise today in strong support of build back better. we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make transformational change for women, for families, and for communities of color. abigail adams wrote a strong letter to her husband, john

adams, and i quote -- remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. today, i stand on the floor so proud to say and blessed to say that we have a president biden and a vice president harris who are laser focused on helping women and families in michigan and across the country. we're talking about remembering women and women of color, from affordable childcare, elder care, expanding the child tax credit, and providing universal pre-k. this agenda lifts women out of poverty. it educates our children while lowering costs. i want to be very clear, as we stand here today as the congressional black caucus,

black women in america carries the highest amount of student debt in america. so when we talk about pell grants, this has a direct impact on -- for black women in america. when we talk about childcare and elder care, women are the predominant workforce in elder care and childcare. and they are disrespected with one of the lowest salaries of employment in the country. so let's talk about expanding the child tax credit. when we know that single women, head of households, families who are struggling to work and put their children in safe and affordable childcare, this is transformational. i had a father text me on a zoom town hall on this issue of

childcare. he said, congresswoman, i pay more for childcare than i do for the mortgage of my home. this is transformational. when we talk about build back better, we're not talking about going back to a time in history. we're talking about being transformational, visionary, and planning and plotting a path to success for all americans. . we know it's women, we saw this very clearly in the pandemic, bearing the brunt of all these social challenges and black women being in the top of that group. bearing the brunt of this pandemic. it's black and brown women who disproportionately make up our child care workers and again, i emphasize making poverty-level wages. we can't turn a blind eye to this. the black caucus will not be quiet. the women's caucus will not be

quiet. and we know that when we lift women, when we lift black women out of poverty, we are changing the economic structure in america. there are women who work two jobs, one to pay child care and one to pay for the mortgage, food and shelter. i want you to know that the build back better plan builds back better for women and families, and it's time to get it done. i am so proud today to sit outside and watch the president sign into law the largest investment in our infrastructure, to fix roads, and for me, the priority is fixing the water infrastructure in america. a pothole is an inconvenience but we need water to drink to stay alive and for human life.

and we know we have kicked this can down the road. we have had so many infrastructure weeks but now in history will say that joe biden led the way with this congress and this senate to start investing in our infrastructure. we're going to get the job done. we are really going to build back better. and i thank you and i yield back to my chair and to my colleague, joy beatty. mrs. beatty: thank you so much, congresswoman brenda lawrence. breaking news. but let me just say as wongcome brenda lawrence said so well, we're not going to be quiet. today we heard president joe biden not be quiet. we also had the opportunity to hear vice president kamala harris not be quiet. when we talk about congressional black caucus, let me talk about

vice president kamala harris, a former member of the congressional black caucus, thank you, vice president harris, for lead big example. getting out there fighting for our democracy and making sure that this is good for america. and as we talk about breaking news and not being quiet, and women, black women, taking leadership roles, it gives me great pleasure to introduce and yield to our newest member of the congressional black caucus. someone that comes with a lot of leadership, talent, and skill. it is a double honor for me because she represents the great state of ohio. you know, it's always good, madam speaker, when off partner. so to be able to have a partner in ohio's 11th district gives me

great honor. someone who works hard. fights for her community. and understands the value of build back better. and what it will do with this once in a generation action. transformational legislation. so madam speaker, that person i'm talking about, my friend, my colleague, my partner, is no other than congresswoman chantelle brown and i yield to you. ms. brown: thank you. thank you, madam speaker and i'd like to thank my colleagues, congresswoman sheila jackson lee for her remarks, congresswoman brenda lawrence, and my leader, my friend, my sister, my mentor, chairwoman of this the -- chairwoman of the c.b.c., joyce beatty. as i rise to make my first

c.b.c. special order hour speech i would like to thank my esteemed colleagues for welcoming me with open arms after i was sworn in as their newest member days ago for playing a critical role getting the bipartisan infrastructure bill across the finish line and for shining the spotlight today on another critical piece of the president's agenda, the build back better act. the congressional black caucus is often called the conscience of the congress and for good reason. the bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law today by president bide season a historic win for our economy, our communities, and the people of my district and from across this nation. its provisions from rebuilding our roads and bridges, to expanding broadband access and ensuring every person has access

to safe drinking water, are supported by and over-- supported by an overwhelming majority of americans. that's why politicians have talked about getting train structure done for years. but today with critical support from the c.b.c., we are delivering results. real results. real results for the people. but our work does not end there. we know the many challenges that have been holding families and our economy back for generations. high health care costs. lk of access to affordable child care. rising prescription drug prices. students left out of higher education opportunities. and shameful increases in food and housing insecurity. and we know that black communities have been disproportionately impacted by these many challenges for far too long. the answer to these challenges is not just more failed tax

giveaways for huge corporations. the answer is to make investments in families to improve their lives, boost their paychecks, and lower their kitchen table costs. the build back better act delivers desperately needed action to tackle these changes and lower the everyday costs that burden working families. it lowers health care costs by allowing medicare to negotiate lower drug costs for seniors and expanding the a.c.a. to bring down rising premiums. it provides universal preschool for all 3 to 4-year-olds, giving every student a chance to have a head start. it expands access to higher education by raising the maximum pell grant and making large investments in hbcu's and other minority-serving institutions. and it includes critical

provisions to ensure no child goes hungry and every american has a roof over their head. our task now is to pass a bill that reflects the president's agenda and our values. to promote equity. to ensure everyone has the opportunity to find a good-paying job and to put money back in the pockets of american families by lowering the cost of living. together with the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the build back better ayen da is going to create millions of job, redeuce poverty, and rebuild the backbone of our country. the middle class. this is what delivering for the american people looks like. madam speaker, i yield back.

mrs. beatty: madam speaker, was as we bring this hour to a close, let me again thank the newest member of the congressional black kaw corks congresswoman shontel brown. let me conclude tonight's special order hour by saying to america, the congressional black caucus will continue to lead and to take bold, decisive action to build back better. by passing the build back better act. we heard that it will create more housing, it will furnish jobs, it will also finish the job for the affordable care act. it will provide medicaid coverage gap. and it will also provide funding as you've heard for hbcu's and helping families in need, giving them a tax cut as congresswoman brown just highlighted for us with the child tax credit. to help ensure americans' global

competitiveness for the 21st century and unleashing the full potential of america's workers and families to thrive in the communities that we represent, especially those 17 million americans represented by the congressional black caucus. 17 million black americans. and when we look at some 80 million americans. so with that, tonight we bring it to close but we will not be quiet. and it gives me great pleasure, madam speaker, say thank you for letting us host the first hour on build back better. our power, our message, the congressional black caucus. now with that, madam speaker, i ask unanimous consent that all members have five legislative

days to revise and extend their remarks and include any extraneous materials on the subject of this special order hour. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mrs. beatty: thank you. the speaker pro tempore: pursuant to section 11-b of house resolution 188, the house stands adjourned until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow morning for morning hour debate and noon for legislative business. >> c-span is your unfiltered view of government. we are going to buy these companies and more, including charter communications. charter has invested billions

building infrastructure, upgrading technology, empowering opportunity in communities big and small. charter is connecting us. charter communications support c-span as a public service, along with these others, giving you a front row seat to democracy. >> this week on the c-span networks, both chambers of congress are in session. the house take up president biden's build back better plan. the debate came at the request of some moderate democrats, who wanted the congressional budget office to analyze the bill. on tuesday at 10:00 eastern, live on c-span3, homeland security secretary mayorkas on an oversight hearing. this hearing was delayed after it senator mayorkas tested

positive for covid-19. also, the leading cyber security experts from the white house, homeland security and the fbi will testify for the house oversight and reform committee on strategies to trick crackdown on ransomware attack's and build resilience against cyber threats. on wednesday at 10:00 eastern, live on c-span3, the confirmation hearing for sec nominee jessica rosenbaum before the -- the come a will take up other nominations including commissioner of the federal trade commission. at 10:30 eastern, a virtual meeting of the house appropriations subcommittee to discuss the u.s. role in covid vaccine equity. watch this week on c-span networks or he could watch. or john c-span now, our new mobile video app. also c-span.org for scheduling

information or to stream video live or on-demand any time. c-span, giving you a front row seat to democracy.-- c-span, c-span is your unfiltered view of government. >> watch a time anywhere on our new mobile video app. axis top pilots, listen to c-span radio and discover new podcasts, all for free. download c-span now, today. >> president biden signed into law the $1 trillion infrastructure built during a ceremony on the south lawn of the white house. president called a blue-collar blueprint to rebuild america and praise republicans and democrats for the bipartisan support of the bill.